The sports world and social media are buzzing after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her welterweight round of 16 fight against Algeria’s Imane Khelif just 46 seconds in on Thursday, August 1, at the Paris Olympics. Carini has stated that she doesn’t see the outcome as a loss on her record. However, some speculate that her decision might be related to Khelif’s previous issue with a gender eligibility test at the 2023 World Championships.
The Paris Olympics faced more controversy when Angela Carini, after a 30-second discussion with her coach, decided to return to the ring but then refused to continue her fight against Imane Khelif. Carini admitted that Khelif’s punches were the hardest she had ever encountered in her career. Early in the bout, a punch from Carini even knocked off her chinstrap and left her shorts stained with blood. Ultimately, Carini was seen sitting in the center of the ring, in tears, as she announced her decision to forfeit the match.
Angela Carini abandons her fight against Imane Khelif, a biological male, just a few minutes into the match.
Ban men from competing in women’s sports! pic.twitter.com/GLVBgJycvF
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) August 1, 2024
The Algerian boxer, who had secured a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships, was disqualified only hours before her gold medal match in New Delhi last year because she didn’t meet the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) eligibility requirements.
Despite the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) disqualification, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved Imane Khelif’s participation in the Games. Angela Carini exited the ring just 40 seconds after the opening bell, standing by her decision. She later clarified that her withdrawal was due to an apparent nose injury, but this incident has sparked a range of reactions across social media.
IOC Justifies Eligibility Rules Amid Controversy
Khelif and Lin, both two-time Olympians who competed in the Tokyo Games without controversy, were permitted to participate in Paris by the IOC task force, which has overseen the last two Olympic boxing tournaments. Lin has been an elite amateur boxer for a decade, while Khelif has competed at the top level for six years. The IOC defended their decision to allow them to compete, emphasizing that Olympic boxing achieved gender parity for the first time this year, with 124 men and 124 women competing in Paris.
“Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said. “They are women in their passports and it’s stated that this is the case, that they are female.”
“What I would say is that this involves real people and we are talking about real people’s lives here…They have competed and they continue to compete in the women’s competition. They have lost and they have won against other women over the years,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said on Thursday
Carini’s Statement
The loss ended Carini’s Olympic aspirations, but she made sure to voice her perspective on the highly discussed issue involving Khelif.
“I wish her to carry on until the end and that she can be happy. I am someone who doesn’t judge anyone. I am not here to give judgements “I didn’t. For me, they weren’t things that stopped me or blocked me mentally,” Carini added.
“I have never been hit so hard in my life. It’s up to the IOC to judge.”
Italy’s Angela Carini after lasting just 46 seconds against Algeria’s intersex athlete Imane Khelif.
Biological firestorm at Paris Olympics. pic.twitter.com/BQRTF9Dc3m
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) August 1, 2024
“For me, it’s not a defeat. For me, when you climb those ropes, you’re already a warrior, you’re already a winner Regardless of everything, it’s okay, I am fine like this. I didn’t lose tonight … I only did my job as a fighter. I got in the ring and I fought. I didn’t make it. I’m coming out with my head held high and with a broken heart,” Carini said..
“I’m a mature woman. The ring is my life. I’ve always been very instinctive. And when I feel that something isn’t right, it’s not giving up. It’s having the maturity to stop. It’s having the maturity to say, ‘OK, that’s enough’.” Carini added.
Controversy Surrounds Paris Olympics Boxing Match
J.K. Rowling has criticized the Paris Olympics, calling it a “disgrace” after a biological male defeated a female in women’s boxing.
Watch this (whole thread), then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn’t sport. From the bullying cheat in red all the way up to the organisers who allowed this to happen, this is men revelling in their power over women. https://t.co/u32FcDTy9p
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024
JK Rowling slams Paris Olympics calling it a ‘Disgrace’ after a biological male beat a female in women’s boxing.
“A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace,… pic.twitter.com/OedcnMfj2J
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 1, 2024
This incident has sparked significant debate among high-profile figures and fans on social media. Italy’s Family Minister Eugenia Roccella and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi have questioned the IOC’s eligibility criteria, while Elon Musk has highlighted Khelif’s past records, describing her participation in the Games as “unjust.”
Absolutely https://t.co/twccUEOW9e
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 1, 2024
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